Our 2023 Fiction Summer Reading List!

Forget your science textbooks and your mandatory AP reading lists! Summer is just around the corner, and now’s the time for FUN reading. We’ve been busy scouring the latest book releases, and we’ve put together a list of our favorite fiction titles for Summer 2023. And we promise, there’s something for everyone! Whether you love murder mysteries, high school drama, or time travel, there’s a title for you to take to the beach or pool!

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Have you ever made a new friend thanks to Xbox? That’s the case for Sam and Sadie, who become best buddies over their shared love of video games. As they grow older, they turn their hobby into a gaming empire. Read this New York Times best-selling book to follow their thirty-year journey of friendship and collaboration.

Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane

An Irish mob, a missing teenage girl, and a dead African American man– Small Mercies has all the makings of an intriguing mystery. Set in 1970s Boston, the novel follows the journey of Mary Pat, who sets out to find her missing daughter and ends up finding much more than she bargained for. The novel explores themes of race, class, and power and is sure to keep any reader intrigued. This novel just came out in late April, but it is already getting great reviews and would be a fantastic addition to your summer reading list!

The Girl in the Castle by James Patterson and Emily Raymond

Hannah Doe is a teenage girl who has just been admitted to a mental hospital. Everyone thinks she’s suffering from hallucinations, but Hannah knows the truth: she’s stuck between two worlds, and now she must return to the past in order to save her sister. But who will help her? We’ll admit that The Girl in the Castle is long, but don’t let the 368 pages scare you away. This is a quick, thrilling read that will definitely capture your attention with its mix of fantastical and psychological elements. 

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

This novel became a best seller and book of the year in 2022. And we know why! Lessons in Chemistry is a lighthearted read about a female chemist in the 1960s who reinvents herself as a cooking show host and a champion of gender equality. This “beach read” would be great to take with you on summer vacation, especially if you’re interested in gender studies.

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

It started as a typical Monday afternoon, but it ended as a murder mystery. In One of Us is Lying, five teens walk into detention, but only four walk out. Simon has died, and everyone wants to know why. Who had a motive to kill Simon? Could it be one of his friends? Maybe the other students in detention know the answers, but will they tell their secrets? This book- the first in a three-part series-  might not be challenging enough for eleventh and twelfth graders, but it’s a great pick for students ages 13-16, especially those who are reluctant readers. 

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Yellowface is the ultimate cautionary tale of plagiarism! June Hayward is a white woman and aspiring writer who fears that readers won’t think her stories are diverse or exciting. So when a fellow writer-an Asian-American woman-dies unexpectedly, June steals her newly-finished story about Chinese laborers in WWI. June adopts a Chinese-American persona, passes the story off as her own, and finds great success. But at what cost? Read Yellowface to see what happens when you try to be someone you’re not.

The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War by Ben Macintyre

The Spy and the Traitor tells the intriguing tale of Oleg Gordievsky, a Russian spy who helped put an end to the Cold War. Blending history, politics, and mystery, this novel will have you on the edge of your seat for over 300 pages. No wonder it’s a New York Times bestseller! Any student interested in criminology, political intrigue, or history is sure to enjoy this book. 

True Biz by Sara Novic

In True Biz, author Sara Novic gives a voice to a silent world. Deaf children are usually isolated by their disability, but that’s not the case at River Valley School for the Deaf. At this school, hearing-impaired teens find a unique community where they can conquer family struggles, growing pains, and the unique challenges of a disability together. Be sure to pick up this book if you want to see how their journeys unfold and discover why this novel was voted as one of the best books of 2022 by The Washington Post.

Stay tuned!

Next week we’ll be sharing our nonfiction summer reading list. If you have any favorite titles to share, please leave a comment.

Our Favorite Online Enrichment Classes For Teens

If you look at any high school student’s academic schedule, you’ll see that they’re loaded up with required math, science, and English classes. There’s also the additional burden of courses that aren’t technically required to graduate, like four years of a foreign language, but are highly recommended for students who want to be competitive candidates at the colleges of their choice!

All of these classes, along with limited elective offerings, can make it difficult for students to explore potential career paths or develop some of the practical life skills they’ll need for the future. That’s why we love enrichment courses! And it doesn’t hurt that they look pretty great on college applications too - they offer an easy, free way to demonstrate interest in a particular field of study!

And while the idea of taking classes in their spare time might not be exciting to most teenagers off the bat, there really are some exciting enrichment opportunities. Especially thanks to online learning platforms like Coursera, students can easily build their skills and delve into their passions from the convenience of their laptops.

Coursera has thousands of classes to choose from, which we know can be overwhelming. But don’t worry! We’ve done our homework, curating a list of some of our favorite Coursera classes that we think are great fits for high school students.

The Science of Well-Being For Teens (Yale University)

The Science of Well-Being is a wildly popular Coursera offering, and now there’s a new teen version! In this six-week class, students examine the psychology behind happiness, stress, and healthy mental habits. Along the way, they complete “happiness” homework assignments to understand how to transform the science of mental wellness into everyday action.

What is Data Science? (IBM)

Data scientists are in big demand– and will continue to be, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data science is one of the fastest growing fields, and employment in this area is expected to increase by 36% over the next decade. For students who are interested in exploring data science, IBM’s course is a great place to start. In What is Data Science, participants learn foundational concepts, such as machine learning, and examine how businesses apply data science. And the course description also promises insights from experts in the field! 

Financial Planning for Young Adults (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) 

Before signing off on student loans or applying for a credit card, teenagers would certainly benefit from a crash course in financial planning. In this four-week module-based class, students are introduced to financial skills and concepts needed for adulthood: budgeting, savings, investing, credit, and more. The course also promises to challenge students through real world scenarios. As an added bonus, the last module of the course provides information about career paths in the financial planning industry. 

Speaking and Presenting: Conversation Starters (University of Michigan)

In a world dominated by text messages, tweets, and Instagram stories, it’s harder than ever for teens to strike up real, face-to-face conversations, especially with adults. In this short ten-hour course, students learn how to initiate conversation, whether in a big group or with an individual, and keep the dialogue going. The curriculum also focuses on how to spark conversation during a presentation and keep an audience engaged. We think this would be a great class for students to take before they begin touring campuses or attending college fairs. 

Act on Climate: Steps to Individual, Community, and Political Action (University of Michigan)

Act on Climate is a perfect match for students interested in environmental activism. Rather than just studying the impacts of climate change, participants learn how to take action! The course focuses on different ways to develop community partnerships with other passionate individuals, as well as political leaders. At the conclusion of the class, students are encouraged to share their efforts online (#UMichActonClimate) and connect with the 14,000+ people who’ve previously taken the class.

Introduction to Philosophy (University of Edinburgh)

What is truth? Do we have an obligation to obey the law? What does it mean for something to have a mind? In Introduction to Philosophy, students look at the fundamental questions in several different areas of philosophy, including politics, science, and morality. This class isn’t just for those seeking the meaning of life. The concepts can help enrich those exploring careers in everything from medicine to law to international relations.

Math Behind Moneyball (University of Houston)

Calling all sports and math enthusiastics! Improve your statistics and probability skills while studying your favorite sports teams. In this class, students use math to make game predictions, master Excel tools, and explore game theory. Sports topics include the NCAA tournament, NASCAR, betting, baseball, and more.  

The History of Medicine: Philosophy, Science and Psychology (University of California, Santa Cruz)

This is a fantastic option for those considering a future in the medical field! The course provides an overview of the history of disease treatment from ancient Egypt to today. Along the way, students examine major shifts in scientific thinking, as well as significant advancements in modern medicine. 

Introduction to Public Speaking (University of Washington)

Introduction to Public Speaking just might be the cure for students who suffer from stage fright, rambling disorder, or presentation disorganization. In this twelve-hour course, students learn how to prepare for and structure a presentation or speech. The course also helps participants work on intonation, body language, and a confident, powerful presence. We think this is a wonderful option for students who want to work past their public speaking fears from the privacy of their own bedrooms! 

Introduction to Cybersecurity Foundations (INFOSEC)

Cybersecurity is another growing industry, and many students are interested to learn more about this field. This short three-hour class is perfect for beginners with little to no knowledge about the field. Students will be introduced to key concepts of cybersecurity, so they feel prepared to explore more advanced classes on the subject in the future. 

Science of Exercise (University of Colorado, Boulder)

We all know that exercise is good for us, but why? In this class, students analyze the impact of exercise on the body, including metabolism, disease prevention, and mental wellness. As part of the curriculum, students also look at behaviors and choices that impact health. Not only is this an informative class for those thinking about a future in health-related industries; it’s also a great option for anyone hoping to develop habits for a healthy future.

Memoir and Personal Essay: Write About Yourself (Wesleyan University)

Wesleyan University is ditching the boring, five-paragraph essay in favor of something much more personal- the memoir! In this specialization- a series of four courses- students learn how to craft their memories and experiences into a powerful personal story. As part of the writing journey, participants practice writing meaningful details, portraying emotions, and cultivating a unique tone and style. This class is ideal for emerging creative writers! 

Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics (Berklee)

Students who aren’t thrilled about essay writing might want to consider this songwriting course. The class offers participants the chance to turn their thoughts and feelings into actual lyrics. No previous musical experience or beautiful singing voice is necessary! Throughout the class, participants learn how to identify the audience for a song, master rhyming techniques, and create memorable phrases. There are also opportunities for peer review and feedback to help participants come away with a finished set of lyrics. 

Essentials of Global Health (Yale University)

In the wake of a pandemic, global health is a more popular topic than ever. Students who want to explore careers in the healthcare industry, public policy, or other community-related fields will want to check out Essentials of Global Health. In this class, participants study significant health issues across the world and their impact on communities. A heavy focus is also placed on health systems and the relationship between health and development in countries.

Digital Footprint (The University of Edinburgh)

Social media has the power to make careers–and break them! That’s why it’s important for teenagers to learn how to manage their digital footprint and present themselves in a professional (and safe) manner. In this course, students develop techniques for creating an appropriate digital presence while discovering ways to leverage social media platforms for networking and career growth. It’s never too early to consider digital footprints, so consider signing up!

Four Plans High School Juniors Should Make This Month

Hey Juniors, we’ve got plans for you this month! February is an important time to “get the ball rolling” on your college admissions process. In fact, there are a few sneaky deadlines creeping up that we don’t want to pass you by. To help you get organized, we’ve put together a list of four big college plans you should make this month. So break out your Google calendar and to-do lists, and get to work!

plan #1: sat or act registration

It might feel like only yesterday that you took the PSAT, but now it’s time to sign up for the real deal. Don’t let February slip by without registering for the SAT or ACT. There are a few testing dates available throughout the spring and early summer. Registration typically closes 4-5 weeks prior to a test, so make sure to sign up early! 

As you consider your options, weigh your academic responsibilities and extracurricular commitments. For example, will you have to study for five AP exams this spring? Then maybe the May 6th SAT isn’t the best date for you. Are you already enrolled in a soccer camp that conflicts with the June 10 ACT? Well, then you better sign up for the April test.

Still not convinced you need to register now? Then check out this reality check. The registration deadline for the March SAT is Friday, February 10: that’s only eight days away! 

plan #2: standardized testing study schedule

Once you’ve got your SAT or ACT testing date on the calendar, take some time this month to devise your study plan. You might even want to gather some friends and start a study group. If you need help getting yourself organized, the College Board has information on how to set up an SAT study group and provides a sample study plan. For those planning to take the ACT, there are free study resources available here. We also love Khan Academy, which offers plenty of guidance for both tests. 

If you are interested in adding a prep course or tutor to your study plan, research your options now! Classes and tutors book up quickly during the spring, and we are happy to recommend tutors and courses that have been helpful to our students in the past (private tutoring is without question the best way to prepare if it’s in the budget!).

plan #3: spring break college Visits

So many families wait until summer to begin touring colleges, but did you know that spring break is an ideal time for campus visits? With school still in session, you’ll be able to experience the “hustle and bustle” of college life at the height of the semester. The crowds of students in the quad, the vibrant classrooms, the events in the Student Center- they can all give you a good sense of campus culture and environment. 

College visits can also be useful as you continue to build and refine your college list. When you experience campuses for yourself, you get a better idea of what you like - and don’t like- and which factors are most important to you in a school. 

There is also no question that students who go on in-person visits have a much easier time (yes, that’s italicized and underlined for a reason) with their “Why this school” essays! Michigan and Wisconsin might seem the same from online info sessions, and while those can be very useful in their own right, it can be hard to capture a sense of place - or in teenage speak, “a vibe” - from that type of programming. On the other hand, in-person visits will help you discover the nuances of different environments. There’s nothing like walking through the tunnel onto the field at The Big House or enjoying Babcock ice cream while watching the sun set across Lake Mendota!

Don’t worry, though, if you don’t have much time or can’t coordinate a long-distance trip. You can always schedule a spring tour at a local college. It might not be at the top of your list (or maybe not on your list at all), but the school can still provide valuable points of comparison for the future.

plan #4: Summer opportunities

Now that the idea of college is starting to feel really real, you’ll want to think about how you can use your summer to prepare for the future. Whether you want to gain experience doing medical research in a lab or explore the field of journalism, there’s an opportunity for just about every interest. Visit our database for comprehensive lists of teen internships, volunteer projects, and pre-college programs available for Summer 2023.

Some of our most recent postings include an opportunity to work for NASA and to conduct research on psychological traumas. Pretty cool, huh? The only problem is that deadlines are approaching fast. Many programs will close their applications in mid to late February, so get to work on those summer plans! 

Exciting Summer 2023 Opportunities for Teens

We’re coming up on a three-day holiday weekend, and if you are a high school student looking for something to do, we’ve got the perfect idea: plan for summer 2023! We know it may seem way too early to start thinking about what you’ll be doing in July. But believe it or not, there are many summer opportunities with winter deadlines. If you don’t start researching and applying now, you might miss out on a great internship, academic program, or volunteer experience.

the advantages of a summer opportunity

Discover new subjects…and maybe a potential college major: Summer programs are notorious for offering unique classes and subjects you might never get the chance to explore at your high school. For example, Brown’s Pre-College Program offers courses in nanotechnology, Netflix, and mood disorders. And Georgetown’s Summer Academies introduce students to subjects like national security, election campaigns, and AI. A summer program might just lead you to discover your college major or career path.

Demonstrate your interest in a specific subject: Colleges love to see students getting deeply involved in the areas about which they are most passionate. This is your chance to delve into a particular field of interest. In the past, our students have spent their summers publishing psychological research; designing major engineering projects; and producing short films. Don’t pass up the chance to invest in something you love! 

Develop soft skills: More than ever, universities and employers are looking for people who can work well with others. And in order to work well with others, you need to develop soft skills, such as communication, empathy, and problem solving. Because so many summer opportunities involve lots of hands-on activities and collaborative projects, they provide the perfect environment to improve your skills. Bonus: you show off these skills in your college applications and interviews!

Build your resume: A summer experience can be a great addition to your resume and college applications. Plus, it could end up being a topic for one of your admissions essays! 

Have fun: Do you imagine yourself bored in class all summer listening to lectures? Well, get that image out of your mind! Summer opportunities aren’t meant to be stressful or passive. Quite the opposite! Most programs are designed to give you real-world experiences: field trips, interactions with industry experts, hands-on projects, competitions, and more. We promise that you can have fun while learning. 

WHERE AND HOW TO APPLY

So have we convinced you to start applying for a summer experience? If so, take the next step and visit our database. We’ve curated extensive lists of local, national, and virtual opportunities for teens. Each week, we update the database with new programs and organizations. While many academic programs charge a fee, there are plenty of free courses and volunteer roles available. 

Here are just a few of the exciting opportunities you’ll find in our database:

• Intern at NASA

• Experience the financial world of Wall Street

• Work in a US Federal Agency office

• Become a published journalist or transform into a broadcaster at Northwestern University

• Learn how to make films with a social impact at Loyola Marymount University

• Conduct biomedical research at the National Institute of Health

• “Find your voice” at Emerson’s Politics, Activism, and Leadership Institute

When you are ready to apply for an opportunity, be sure to carefully and thoroughly complete your application materials. If you need support writing application essays, building your resume, or preparing for an interview, book a session with us. 

ADD AN OPPORTUNITY TO OUR DATABASE

If you are an employer or organization looking for teen interns or volunteers, we’d love to add your information to our database. Please email staci@dccollegecounseling.com with your information.

5 Questions to Ask Your Ninth Grader Right Now

Do you know what you’ll be doing 1200 days from now? Well, if you’re the parent of a current ninth grader, you’ll probably be sitting at your child’s high school graduation. Although thoughts of caps and gowns and college may seem light years away, it’s never too early to start planning for the future. In fact, ninth grade is a critical time to set your student up for college success. 

But how do you know if your ninth grader is on the path to success? Ask! Today we’re sharing 5 questions that will help you ‘check in’ with your freshman and create important college-building conversations. 

1. How are you feeling about your classes?

What did you get on that test? Did you do your homework? Well, have you asked your teacher for help? Let’s face it, sometimes parenting can feel more like project management. You may find yourself inquiring into due dates and scores just to stay ‘in the know.’ While this information is certainly handy, it might not tell you the whole academic story about your ninth grader.

Rather than framing questions that only result in a yes, no or eye roll, try a more open-ended framework. “How are you feeling about x…” is a great way to create a conversation and help your child reflect on the academic transition to high school. For example, a simple “how are you feeling about your homework load” could lead to productive discussions about time management, the need for a math tutor, or changes to after-school commitments.

2. What’s sparking your interest?

Ninth grade is a discovery year, as students begin to take new electives and get involved with activities that may not have been available to them in middle school. Check in with your child to see which subjects, clubs, and causes are engaging them. And then encourage them to explore these areas even more! For example, if your child enjoys talking about politics in their government class, suggest that they try out the debate team or attend a Model U.N. meeting.

3. How are you getting to know your teachers?

We know, we know. Some teenagers don’t even like having conversations with their parents, let alone with adults at school. However, establishing strong relationships with teachers is extremely important. Not only are these relationships proven to increase a student’s academic performance, they can be downright inspirational. We hear stories all the time from students who credit particular high school teachers for their career paths and leadership skills. 

Building connections is a great skill for students to develop early on in high school. Talk to your ninth grader about habits that can make for strong teacher relationships: participating in class, asking questions, reaching out for help, visiting teachers during study halls and free periods. These small efforts to engage go a long way!

4. What’s on your high school bucket list?

Ask a ninth grader about their goals for the next three and half years, and you’ll probably get a bewildered look in return--or an abrupt reply concerning grades. But there’s much more to the high school experience than just GPAs. Help your child start to think about the ways in which they want to get involved in the community. Have they always wanted to take center stage in a school play or learn how to play lacrosse? Can they see themselves running for student council or maybe creating a fundraiser to help their favorite cause? We love the bucket list question because it can help students get out of their comfort zones and picture the many possibilities for their high school experience.

5. What would you like to do this summer?

This may seem like a strange question to ask when we are just coming up on Thanksgiving, but hear us out. Summer is an ideal time for rising sophomores to explore their interests and begin developing the skills they’ll need for college. Luckily, there are hundreds of opportunities for 15 year olds to choose from: international excursions, enrichment courses, volunteer projects, and yes, even some internships. 

Start exploring options with your child now. Many summer programs will begin accepting applications as early as December. If you’re not sure where to look, check out the DC College Counseling Database. We regularly update our site with exciting summer experience opportunities. 

Weekly Update: July 21

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

UW WILL ACCEPT THE COMMON APP

So new we don’t even have a link - but the Washington State flagship UW-Seattle, one of the last Common App holdouts, will now accept the Common Application for the upcoming admissions cycle. Yay! Come on, Rutgers - time to get on the bandwagon!

STUDENTS WANT COLLEGES TO PROVIDE THE ABORTION PILL

While college health centers have long provided a variety of reproductive care for students, including birth control and STD screenings, they do not typically provide abortion care. Some colleges are responding to student demands to provide the abortion pill - UMass Amherst will begin to provide it in the fall, and California law requires all UC schools to provide medication abortion by January 2023 (some, like Berkeley, already do). 

But many public and private universities, especially those with strict or changing abortion laws, may not be able to legally provide this to students. Colleges also cite security and privacy concerns around providing these services on campus. 

COLLEGE TAKEOVERS INCREASE

The pandemic has seen a number of colleges go out of business, and several of these struggling schools have merged with larger universities. Northeastern, which put together a special M&A team to handle acquisitions, has absorbed Mills College, a Silicon Valley women’s college that went under during COVID-19. Northeastern hopes the opportunity to study in Silicon Valley will better prepare its students for future careers in the tech industry. This is just the latest of 95 college mergers in the last four years - more than in the previous 18 years combined. 

STUDENTS WORK TOWARD HERBICIDE-FREE CAMPUSES

In response to growing climate anxiety and powerlessness on college campuses, some students have turned to areas where they can make a difference - like stopping the use of toxic pesticides on school grounds. Toxic chemicals are often used at universities to keep up the picturesque green quad and vibrant landscaping, but the organization Herbicide-Free Campus is working to end that practice. 

The organization now has chapters at Brandeis, Emory, Indiana, and Berkeley, among others. Students who belong to HFC spend time working on their campus grounds, pulling weeds alongside the campus grounds team. 

Some schools, like Harvard, have already transitioned to fully organic lawn care - a practice that HFC says has reduced irrigation needs by 30%. HFC hopes to see every campus go organic by 2030.

WANT TO STUDY HARRY STYLES?

Starting in Spring 2023, Honors College students at Texas State will be able to do just that, in a course titled “Harry Styles and the Cult of Celebrity.” Students will study both Styles’ solo albums and the albums of One Direction in a contemporary history class that explores gender, sexuality, fandom, the internet, and consumerism, among other themes. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

If you watch movies or read the newspaper, it may seem like an athletic scholarship is the key to a full ride to college. Pop culture is rife with examples of students beating the odds and heading happily off to their dream school, which their parents could never afford without the coveted football scholarship. But only one in 100 top high school athletes actually receive a full ride, and the process of competing for one can often be nearly as expensive as in-state tuition! If you’re considering spending money on camps, equipment, or recruiting services, check out this article first - you may be tempted to put the money into a 529 account instead. 

In expectation that the current Supreme Court is likely to end affirmative action in college admissions, check out this opinion piece to learn why this might actually be a good thing. The writer argues that instead of focusing our efforts on admitting students to colleges when they may not be academically prepared, we should instead help students at younger ages receive the support they need to be successful at elite universities later on. 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We have so many swim coaches working with us this year and the NVSL season is coming to an end this weekend - good luck, everybody!

A few cool things to share this week:

• If you’re a class of 2022 student gearing up for your freshman year, check out this free webinar - illustrating how to build the habits that will help you transition into college life. The event - Tiny Habits for College Success - takes place next Wednesday 7/27 at 2:00 pm ET. The event is also open to parents with current or future college students in their lives :) 

• If you’re younger and/or will be in DC next year, have you heard of the Kennedy Center’s MyTix program? I just learned about it this year. Students from kindergarten through I believe graduate school are able to purchase two deeply discounted tickets to lots of performances- one for the student and one for a companion of their choice (parent, etc). They sent out an email this morning about the “MyTix Mix” subscription package for next year- it’s such a great deal if you enjoy the arts, and some of the seats are surprisingly decent! Tickets range from $15-$35 per show. If you don’t want to commit, sign up for MyTix emails anyway and you’ll get new offers every Monday morning for individual shows.

Have a great weekend! I’m out of the office next week, but Shannon will be back and holding down the fort.

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Weekly Update: July 15

We’ve got plenty of news for you from the past two weeks after taking the holiday week break!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK(S)

PENN’S EARLY EXPLORATION PROGRAM

Penn has announced two great programs for high school seniors, serving students from historically underrepresented backgrounds in order to underscore their commitment to a diverse class. The Early Exploration Program is a month-long program will allow students to meet with current students and admissions staff to learn more about Penn and participate in workshops on writing essays and preparing for interviews. If you are a low income and/or first generation student, you should definitely take advantage of this opportunity!

BOSTON COLLEGE ENDOWS HEAD SKIING COACH POSITION

BC received a gift of $1.25 million this week from an alumnus, in order to endow a head coaching position for BC’s skiing program. BC’s ski team sent its first student to the NCAA Championships in 2018, and has sent seven other skiers to national championships in the years since. 

CAMBRIDGE OPENS INQUIRY INTO STUDENT DEATHS

Five students at Cambridge University have died in the last five months, and the school is now opening an investigation into these tragedies, one of which has been confirmed as a suicide. While the university is not releasing information in order to protect the students’ privacy, a spokesperson said that they do not believe there is any connection between these incidents. 

NEW CHANGES TO B-SCHOOL ADMISSIONS

Dartmouth, Duke, and Michigan have all made announcements about changes to their MBA application process for the MBA class of 2025. Duke has announced a new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion concentration to the program, for a total of 17 concentration options that students have during the application process. The university also created the new Fuqua Impact Scholars Program, which will award merit scholarships to incoming Fuqua School students. 

Michigan’s Ross School added an additional short essay to its application, and will offer students the option of submitting a standardized test waiver in lieu of a test score. And the Tuck School at Dartmouth will now offer virtual interviews to all students who apply in Rounds 1 and 2!

MORE CHANGES IN STORE FOR NCAA CONFERENCES

After the announcement two weeks ago about USC and UCLA’s move to the Big Ten conference, there is a lot of speculation about the creation of “Super Conferences,” in which the Big Ten, SEC, and possibly Big 12 conferences jump out ahead of other teams, creating a new tier of college football that will leave behind the ACC and the Pac-12 with teams that didn’t make the cut for these new super conferences. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK(S)

We like this short list as an easy guide for rising seniors as they work on their college applications this summer. Many juniors who start with us in the fall have already done most of these things by now, but if you’re just getting started, it’s not too late to get a jump on the college process before school is back in session (P.S. our Late-Start Waitlist opened last week for rising seniors who want some help tackling this list - you can join here). 

Larry Arnn - president of Hillsdale College - created controversy this past weekend when he remarked at a conference that teachers are “trained in the dumbest parts of the dumbest colleges in the country,” calling the Education Department the “dumbest part” of any college. Ouch. Hillsdale has helped to open a network of charter schools around the country, and argues that students will receive a better education from teachers at these schools than those at public institutions. 

If you are going on college tours this summer, you may be surprised to learn that campus tours “keep college presidents up at night.” But the college tour, often led by a current student, is one part of the admissions process over which the college administration has the least control. Often, students’ experiences on a tour are shaped by their particular tour guide, who is hanging around campus that day, even the weather! If you are a student touring colleges this summer, this article is a really good reminder that the tour shouldn’t be the be-all, end-all of your college search - because so much depends on luck, this isn’t necessarily the most representative piece of your college research!

I really enjoyed this piece from the Washington Post about self-deprecation in the college essay! I definitely agree with the author - do NOT overdo it. But if you can do this in a way that still shares positive characteristics and/or personal growth with the reader, go for it!

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Many of our students are moving onto their school-specific essays, and we love reading more about them! Students who stick to our timeline will usually knock out about half of their supplemental essays before August 1, which makes the work in August a bit more manageable and sets them up to finish their applications by September. If you are looking to get a head start on your essays as well, don’t forget to check out our essay prompt database, which we update weekly with new prompts for the class of 2023 as they are released. 

Speaking of essays - we just had two cancellations come through for appointments with Staci if anyone wants to snap them up! One is for Monday, July 25 at 4:00pm and one is for Tuesday, July 19 at 11:00am., and you can go ahead and book here.

Have a great weekend!

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Weekly Update: July 1

Lots of college news to share before the holiday weekend!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

JOHNS HOPKINS SUMMER PROGRAMS CANCELED

The three-week academic summer programs run by Johns Hopkins’ Center for Talented Youth were canceled at the last possible minute last week - while some students were already enroute to the campus. Hopkins made the announcement on Friday at 3:30 pm, with the programs scheduled to start on Monday morning. 

Hopkins said that lack of staffing was the reason for the cancellation, which affected 870 students prepared to attend the prestigious summer program. Today, the director of the program’s employment was terminated. Hopkins’ CTY has hosted celebrities like Mark Zuckerberg and Lady Gaga, and is open to students from grade 2 to grade 12. 

OUR USC DREAMS ARE (SORT OF) COMING TRUE

For years it has been a rude awakening for students who love USC to realize that the school does not accept Early Decision or Early Action applications - and will review every student, even the most interested in the school, as part of the Regular Decision pool. While we’re still holding out for an ED option, we’re excited that USC will now offer an Early Action option to students applying to programs that do not require portfolio submissions. 

It seems like USC will follow Georgetown’s lead in deferring ALL EA students to the Regular Decision pool if they are not accepted, without sending any rejections during the EA round. EA students will receive either an admit or defer decision in mid- to late January. 

USC AND UCLA LEAVE THE PAC-12

Speaking of USC, in 2024, USC and UCLA will move from the Pac-12 conference to the Big Ten. The schools received notice that their applications to join the Big Ten were accepted on Tuesday night. The Big Ten says that the conference unanimously voted to allow the Los Angeles schools to join. The Pac-12 says that they are disappointed with the loss of these two schools, the biggest brand names in the conference.

UGA STUDENT RECEIVES CARNEGIE MEDAL

Last summer, Tucker Shields, a UGA student, was completing an internship at a DC law firm. While waiting for an Uber near Nationals Park, Shields saw a young couple being harassed by an armed assailant. Shields tackled the man, dodging a gunshot that left him deaf in one ear for a month. Now, the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission has honored him with the Carnegie Medal for his actions. 

COLUMBIA STOPS PARTICIPATION IN U.S. NEWS RANKINGS

Dedicated blog readers may remember several months ago when a professor at Columbia cast doubt on the data that the school provides to U.S. News & World Report - data which has led to Columbia capturing the number two spot in the prestigious rankings. Today is the deadline for schools to submit data this year, and Columbia has announced that it needs more time to review the allegations about its data and will not be submitting.

In addition to Columbia, the School of Education at USC will also be absent from the rankings, having pulled its data due to years of inaccuracies. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Curious about the new digital SAT, which will be available to US students in spring 2024? We recommend this blog post, which covers all of the recently announced specifications and sample questions provided by College Board. 

The outgoing superintendent of FCPS, Scott Braband, was interviewed about all of the major moments during his tenure - including the COVID-19 pandemic, hiring challenges, the changes in admissions at TJ, and diversity initiatives. Braband’s last day was yesterday, and Michelle Reid has taken over as the superintendent of the largest public school system in the state. This interview is an interesting retrospective of the upheaval over the last few years.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

I (Colleen) was interviewed by U.S. News this week about the biggest mistakes that a new college student can make - check it out here to find out why you shouldn’t join too many clubs, why you should get a random roommate, and the real reason not to skip class! 

We will be closed on Monday for the July 4 holiday - enjoy the long weekend!

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Last Minute Summer 2022 Opportunities in Washington DC for High School Students

It’s the first full week of summer for most high school students, and we know some teenagers are asking themselves: what am I going to do this summer? If you’re still trying to make plans, we’re here to help! We’ve curated a list of last-minute jobs and internship postings in the DC region; universities still accepting students for pre-college programs; and exciting overseas travel opportunities.

Jobs and Internships

Get your feet wet in the maritime industry (Manassas, VA)

Are you interested in naval engineering or architecture? If so, this might be the internship for you! Hepburn and Sons is a small, veteran-owned business that provides consulting services for ships. They are currently looking for a high school intern to work on-site during the summer months. In addition to office tasks, you’ll get the chance to review documents, conduct research and put together presentations. Click here to view eligibility requirements and apply.

Become a Kid Kare attendant at George Mason University (Prince William, VA)

Spend your summer playing sports and leading arts and crafts! George Mason University Freedom Aquatic and Fitness Center on the Science and Technology campus is hiring part-time Kid Care attendants for the summer. Flexible scheduling is possible, but applicants should be available on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. This is a great opportunity for students considering a career in education.

Teach kids to swim at Goldfish Swim School (Reston, VA)

If you’re a strong swimmer who’s always wanted to coach, why not become a swim instructor for the summer? At Goldfish Swim School, you’ll help elementary and middle school students gain their confidence in the water while having fun. Plus you’ll have the chance to earn your lifeguard certification. 
Note: there are multiple Goldfish Swim School locations throughout northern Virginia. Click here to see job openings in Alexandria and Falls Church.

Care for pets at a local animal hospital (Fairfax Station, VA)

This is an exciting part-time job for animal lovers and those who are thinking about a future in veterinary science. Crosspointe Animal Hospital is looking for a kennel assistant (age 16+) who can walk dogs, monitor patients, assistant with cleaning duties, and more. There are flexible morning and evening shifts available, but you must be able to work weekends and holidays, too! A job description and application link is available here.

Join a political campaign (Bethesda, MD/ remote)

Have you ever dreamt of a future in politics? Are you interested in learning more about the election process? If so, apply to become a political campaign intern this summer! Hans Riemer for County Executive (Montgomery County, MD) is looking for dedicated teens to join the campaign trail- virtually and in-person. Interns will work in one of five departments: Social Media & Communications, Organizing, Research & Policy, Finance & Political, or Direct Voter Contact and will learn fundamental skills from experts in the field.   No experience is necessary, but you must be willing to work at least ten hours per week.

Note: this position was just posted yesterday and is only accepting applications until Friday June 17. Apply now!

Are you interested in taking academic enrichment classes this summer?

Many colleges and universities across the United States offer summer pre-college courses for high school students. Although many deadlines have passed, there are still some great programs accepting applications for virtual and in-person classes.

American University High School Summer Scholars

George Washington University

Kode with Klossy @ Barnard College

Marist College

Wake Forest Summer Immersion Program

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Have you caught the travel bug?

We’re all eager to travel again, so if you’re thinking about planning a last minute trip this summer, why not turn it into a cool academic experience? There are plenty of overseas options for teens, whether you’re interested in language immersion, cultural enrichment, the arts, sports training, etc. 

Smithsonian Student Travel - Various summer trips are offered for high school students in Alaska, Central and South America, and Europe.

 The TASIS Summer Programs- Residential programs are available in England, Switzerland, and Switzerland for students of ALL ages.

Summer at Oxford  (England)-  This program is geared toward high school students preparing for university who want to spend the summer studying at one of the most prestigious universities in the world. 

Summer in Switzerland- Residential programs are available in the Swiss Alps for students of all ages. There is a variety of academic, sports, and artistic offerings. 

Putney Student Travel- These worldwide programs allow students to focus on a particular career path, language immersion, or service-oriented opportunity. 

We can help!

If you need assistance with last minute summer applications, resumes, or cover letters, book an appointment with an essay coaching professional at DC College Counseling.

Weekly Update: May 26

We were shocked and saddened by the tragedy in Texas this week, and our thoughts are with the victims and their families. I have a fourth grader too, so it hit especially close to home for me. As we prepare for Memorial Day weekend, we are also thinking of the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country - as well as the incredible sacrifices made by their families and friends left behind.

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

SUMMER AND FALL 2022 SAT REGISTRATION IS LIVE

The College Board typically opens registration each June or July for the entire following school year (I.e. in June 2022 for August 2022-June 2023 test dates). This year, they changed things up and just released the ability for students to register early for the August 2022, October 2022, November 2022, and December 2022 test dates. All students planning to take one of these tests (or even considering it) should register as soon as possible! The August and October administrations are already filling up quickly.

2022-2023 COMMON APPLICATION UPDATES

The Common Application held a session yesterday to share upcoming changes in advance of the 2022-2023 application release. They confirmed that application rollover will take place on August 1, as in previous years. Students’ login information will remain the same, and all of the information in their profile, family, education, testing, activities, writing, and courses and grades sections will roll over.

(Remember: It’s great to take advantage of the rollover function - definitely get started early and fill all of this out in advance. But MAKE SURE to print/save PDFs of each individual page in case there is some type of rollover error. This does happen occasionally and it would be so awful if all of your hard work was lost!)

Some new changes: “Mx.” and “Other” are now prefix options, and the order of the gender, pronoun, and name questions have moved. There will also be some adjustments to the order and criteria of the questions relating to fee waivers.

PRINCETON FIRES JOSHUA KATZ

In 2018, Princeton University suspended Professor Joshua Katz, pending an investigation into a relationship he had with one of his undergraduate students. On Monday, the school fired the tenured professor, citing a lack of cooperation with this investigation. This is a particularly unusual occurrence, as Katz was a tenured professor at the university. Katz argues that the firing came on the heels of an article he published that criticized the school’s anti-racist policies, and is not an issue of his relationship but instead a blow to free speech. 

GEORGETOWN SENIORS SHUT DOWN LINCOLN MEMORIAL

The Lincoln Memorial was shut down on Saturday morning after hundreds of Georgetown University seniors left broken bottles and spilled wine and champagne covering the monument’s steps. The site was open to the public again by 11:00 am on Saturday. 

COLLEGES REIMPOSE INDOOR MASK MANDATES

As COVID cases spike, colleges around the country have started to reinstate their mask mandates on campus, including the University of Delaware. Public school systems in Philadelphia, PA and Providence, RI have also reinstated their mask mandates in response to cases in the area. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

We shared an article a few weeks back with one professor’s opinion of how the pandemic has affected student’s learning ability and focus in the classroom once they arrive in college. Now, a disability rights advocate has published a response, citing mental health issues rather than online learning as the reason why so many students are struggling. Several other letters to the editor continue this dialogue, offering remote learning and mental health related responses to the perceived crisis in students’ engagement. 

Price hikes at a number of colleges have reinvigorated the conversation around whether college is really worth the cost. Enrollment continues to drop, even with the worst of the pandemic (hopefully!) behind us, and in a recent Boston Globe poll, only 10% of respondents felt that college was definitely worth the investment. Spring 2022 college enrollment has dropped nearly 5% from last year - in addition to the overall pandemic drop of almost 10%. This is a surprise to some colleges that expected enrollment to bounce back this cycle.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We’ve offered up our own lists of fiction and nonfiction reads for students to check out this summer, and we’d like to add these three career-focused books for college graduates! If you want even more info on summer reading, current members and clients can check out our Membership Vault summer reading guide.

Pro Tip: We also recommend reading a newspaper or two regularly this summer - this will definitely help you out in interviews when you are asked to talk about a recent news story or political issue that interests you, as well as on applications (like Princeton’s!) that may ask about which publications you read regularly. 

Still looking for more summer opportunities? Gettysburg College’s inaugural Civic Engagement Camp is still accepting applications until Friday, June 3. The program aims to teach students about American democracy and the importance of civic engagement, all against the background of Gettysburg’s history (and with a day trip to Washington, DC).

Have a great weekend!

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Our Fiction Summer Reading List

Last week we shared our favorite new nonfiction releases that are perfect additions to your summer reading list. Now we’re delving into the world of science fiction, fantasy, murder mysteries, and more as we curate our favorite fiction releases for summer 2022.

Sea of Tranquility- Emily St. John Mandel

What does an early 20th century teenage exile have in common with a professional writer from a moon colony in 2203? Emily St. John Mandel has the answer. Weaving together time travel with science fiction and a bit of post-apocalyptic flair, Mandel masterfully combines the stories of several characters over three centuries. This rather quick read will leave you constantly wondering how these lives have crossed into a twenty-fifth century investigation. Although Sea of Tranquility was just released in April, it’s already a popular title with thousands of rave reviews! See what you think for yourself!

All My Rage- Sabba Tahir

Sabaa Tahir’s latest young adult release follows the journey of two friends who both feel like outcasts growing up in California. As they face family pressures, cultural clashes, and life-altering secrets, both characters battle with the age old question: who am I? This novel isn’t exactly a light-hearted read, but it’s a modern coming-of-age story that captures all of the complexities of becoming an adult.

The Maid: A Novel -Nita Prose

If you’re looking for a little mystery in your life, then this is the book for you! In The Maid, we get to know Molly, a quirky twenty-five year old who works as a hotel cleaner. She loves her job…until the unimaginable happens. Suddenly Molly is the prime suspect in a murder case and must set out to clear her name. This novel is a fun read and will have you feeling like you’re playing the classic board game Clue.

The Kaiju Preservation Society- John Scalzi

What do you do when you hate your job? That’s the question that sets Jamie- the main character in The Kaiju Preservation Society- on the adventure of a lifetime. Eager to quit delivering food for a big food app, Jamie accepts a new position that is literally out of this world. The novel follows Jamie as he navigates an alternate universe void of any humans and the biggest responsibility of all: to protect Earth from the Kaiju monsters. We’ll admit that this book is absurd, but that’s what makes it an ideal summer read for science fiction lovers.

The Foundling- Ann Leary

Even though The Foundling won’t be released until the end of May, we couldn’t leave it off our summer reading list. Set in the 1920s, The Foundling tells the story of a young psychiatrist who accepts a job at a mental asylum for women. Although the asylum claims to help women, not everything is what it seems. As the young doctor starts to uncover the real truth behind mental illness treatments, our main character is faced with life-altering decisions. This novel is based on real life accounts from the author’s own grandmother and is already receiving favorable reviews. From what we’ve read so far, we think this is a worthy read for anyone with an interest in psychology and/or history.

How High We Go in the Dark- Sequoia Nagamatsu

In How High We Go in the Dark, Sequoia Nagamatsu blends short stories with the novel. Through a series of chapters (or episodes), we follow the lives of several characters as they rebuild after a global pandemic in the year 2030. Now we admit that this theme might feel a bit too real and heavy for many of us, but don’t worry. There are many fantastical elements that bring in the best of science fiction, dystopian worlds, and more. PS: Curiously, this book was drafted before the COVID-19 pandemic, which makes it all the more fascinating to see how Nagamatsu’s imagination measures up against the realities of the past two years.

Not ready to pick up a book?

Are you short on time? Or maybe not a big book lover? Well, there are plenty of ways to delve into a great story and keep up on the best literature. Here are some alternatives to your traditional summer reading.

Book of the Day Podcast

If you want to tune in to the latest reads, check out NPR’s Book of the Day Podcast. In fifteen minutes or less, the hosts will tell you all you need to know about a particular title. There’s a huge variety of texts and genres covered, which will leave you feeling well-read in barely any time.

Book Riot Podcast

The hosts of Book Riot track all of the latest trends, worthy recommendations, and coolest writers in the book world. Whether you’re looking to keep up with literary news or discover a new title or genre to read yourself, this is a great place to start.

Literary Hub

The title pretty much sums it up. Visit the Literary Hub website for book recommendations and reviews; literary news articles and cultural commentary, and more.

Follow us on Instagram

Take advantage of social media by following these book-loving accounts on IG:

• @BOOKOFTHEMONTH

• @GOODREADS

• @REESESBOOKCLUB

• @NYTBooks

Weekly Update: May 20

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

AP PRECALCULUS!

Yes, you read that right. College Board announced this week that it will be offering an AP Precalculus option in the 2023-2024 school year. The announcement comes in the wake of numerous articles (including some we shared on this blog) that cover the lack of math preparation for high school students during the pandemic. College Board asserts that the new course offering will better prepare students for college math, particularly STEM-related majors. 

PUBLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENT FALLS

I’ve shared on the blog before about my decision to pull my daughter out of her public school and it turns out I’m not alone! Since 2020, public school enrollment is down by over a million students. Many of these students moved to private or parochial schools, or were even homeschooled, while others dropped out of school due to job loss, homelessness, lack of Wi-Fi access, or other financial issues during the pandemic. The enrollment drop has particularly affected schools that had long periods of remote instruction. And since school budgets are tied to enrollment, public schools will likely be dealing with a drop in funding as well. This may be a contributor to some school districts’ reluctance to reinstate mask mandates or vaccination requirements for fear of losing even more students. 

MENTAL HEALTH DAY OF ACCEPTANCE

Here in our office we were excited to join in on today’s Virginia-wide American Academy of Pediatrics “Wear Green Day of Action” for Mental Health acceptance! (Can you tell that none of us really have green in our wardrobes?! We tried…)

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

We love summer reading in our office, and not just because we’re book lovers! “What is a great book you’ve read recently?” or “What are you reading right now?” or “What is your favorite book?” are very common interview questions for students, and summer is a great time to learn something new AND prepare your answers at the same time. Not sure where to start? Check out our nonfiction summer reading recommendations from the blog this week, or take a look at this Atlantic article for reviews of books based on college campuses or other educational settings.  

When it comes to paying for college, looking at a private vs. a public school is often one of families’ first considerations. But despite the popular wisdom, there are cases where a scholarship to a private school makes it more affordable than a public option - and many cases where an out-of-state public school can be as expensive or even more expensive than a private one! This Forbes article provides a run-down of the tuition costs for the most expensive public colleges by state, and might be a good place to start if public college is on your student’s list (and yes, UVA is #1 on this list).

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

The hot weather lately definitely reminds us that summer is coming! We are still adding to our Summer Opportunities Database every week. Most recently, we featured an opportunity for juniors and seniors in high school to join Mount Vernon’s Student Advisory Board. This is an awesome leadership opportunity for students interested in art, history, museum curation, education, or just networking and gaining experience!

And one more thing on the summer to-do list for juniors - essays! We are so excited to welcome McClain back to the office this summer - she will be available starting in mid-June for students to work with on their essays. Our calendar has been updated and students can now book appointments for June and July with McClain or Staci. If you have a busy summer ahead, we recommend booking those meetings now to make sure that you get the time slots that work best for you! 

McClain has been busy since last summer - check out her adorable new baby Theo, born in January!

Have a great weekend, and stay cool!

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How Juniors Can Make Senior Year Easier- Starting Now!

There are just a few weeks left in the school year, and that means juniors can start to breathe sighs of relief. AP exams are winding down, and end-of-year festivities are kicking off. But before you get swept up in prom and summer break, we’ve got a few more assignments for you.

Fall semester can be extremely hectic for twelfth graders. However, there are things you can do now (and over the summer) to help make senior year easier and the college admissions process much more organized and efficient.

Secure your teacher recommendations

Many college applications require two or three teacher recommendations. For teachers, this can be a nightmare in the fall when they are inundated with dozens of requests… and you don’t want that nightmare to be reflected in the quality of your letter! Help your teachers – and yourself – by asking for recommendations now. This way they’ll have plenty of time to write you a quality letter, and you will have one less worry in the fall. 

When you’re ready to ask, make sure to speak to your teachers in person. A good way to make sure you don’t end up with a so-so letter is to use the following language: ”Do you think you know me well enough to write me a very supportive letter of recommendation?” In other words, you’re telling them that it needs to be a great letter, and you’re providing an easy out if they can’t make that happen.

We highly suggest providing them with a ‘highlight reel’ of your personal strengths, achievements, and academic interests relating to your performance in their class. If you’re not sure who to ask or what to include in your highlight reel, take a look at our previous blog post where we discuss the best ways to secure a strong recommendation letter.

Confirm your fall schedule

We can’t say it enough: avoid the senioritis schedule! Colleges want to see that you’re pursuing a rigorous curriculum, so it’s important to continue challenging yourself rather than opting for that extra study hall or the “easy” elective.

Now is the time to organize your course load and address any scheduling conflicts. We especially encourage you to talk with your teachers or counselors if you’re considering an honors section or an AP class. Depending upon the school and their policies, you may have to take some extra steps to enroll in an advanced course, whether it’s submitting a petition or taking a placement test. 

If your ideal fall schedule isn’t turning into a reality, don’t get discouraged. Consult with your parents and advisors to brainstorm alternatives. For example, if you’ve already taken the most advanced foreign language class at your school, you might want to look into a dual enrollment program in your area. If there’s no marketing elective offered, consider an online course. There are a growing number of options, both virtually and at local colleges. To take advantage of these options, though, you’ll need to plan now.

Finalize your college list

If you haven’t started already, get to work on your college list. Do some research to get a better sense of what you’re looking for in a school, from size to location to academic offerings. With literally thousands of colleges and universities to choose from, you’ll need to identify what’s most important to you. The College Board offers a comprehensive search tool, and for data lovers out there, College Data provides plenty of school statistics. 

To stay organized, we recommend keeping track of your research with a spreadsheet. Not sure how to make one? We love this free template that you can easily download and customize to fit your needs.

Prepare application materials

College applications require you to submit many different materials: test scores, transcripts, teacher recommendations, essays, and more. You won’t be able to complete some pieces until the fall, but right now you can begin to prepare several materials.

• Make a list of the activities you’ve participated in throughout high school: sports, clubs, volunteer opportunities, jobs, internships, etc. You can even input them directly into the Common Application and roll them over to the new 2022-2023 Common Application in August!

• Work on your resume, which should include any work experience, extracurricular involvements, and awards/achievements.

• The Common Application released their essay prompts several months ago. Take a look at your options, so you can start brainstorming, drafting, or even finishing your essay over the summer. Since we like to start early, some of the juniors we work with are already done with it!

Visit schools, even through your computer screen

Although campus tours always feel a bit different during the summer months when undergrads aren’t filling up the quads and walkways, these visits can still help you with your college list. If possible, sign up for some campus tours. It’s always good to see the school in person, get a feel for the environment, and check out the surrounding community. Take a look at our expert tips on how to prepare for and get the most of your tour here.

If you can’t travel, don’t worry! You can still use this time to take virtual tours, sign up for Zoom information sessions, and/or attend a local college fair. Colleges like to see demonstrated interest, so take advantage of these convenient ways to formally show your engagement with a school.

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Does your junior need help with the college application process? If so, book a no-obligation meet and greet with us today to learn more about our services.

Weekly Update: April 1

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

BRUTAL REGULAR DECISION NUMBERS

A number of highly selective (or as many of our colleagues are calling them, “highly rejective”) schools released the last of the regular decision admission decisions last night. It was absolutely insane. Check out the latest results from College Kickstart, but don’t forget to keep in mind that these statistics are somewhat misleading as they represent the combination of results from multiple admission plans. In other words, many of these schools are admitting 50%+ of their classes through binding early decision plans with a higher acceptance rate.

Let’s look at Vanderbilt - they had approximately 2,700 ED I applicants; 2,400 ED II applicants; and 41,600 RD applicants for a total of 46,717. As College Kickstart reports, 2,864 students were admitted to the freshman class for an overall acceptance rate of 6%. Totally insane, right? But it gets worse. Of the 2,700 ED I applicants, 24.1% of students were accepted. Of the 2,400 ED II applicants, 10.3% of students were accepted. And for the approximately 41,600 RD applicants? Approximately 1,964 acceptance letters went out. This means that despite the published acceptance rate of 6%, the RD acceptance rate was actually 4.7%. For Vanderbilt - an amazing school, of course, but it’s not Harvard or Yale.

Perhaps even more depressing, Northeastern had an overall acceptance rate of 7% (Northeastern!!!!), Tulane 10%, Boston University 14%, NYU 12%… what is wrong with the world?!

MIT REINSTATES TESTING REQUIREMENT

MIT is the latest school to announce that it will be reinstating its testing requirement for the next admissions cycle. Yet rather than the decision itself, it is the reasoning behind the decision that has been making a lot of waves in the educational consulting community this week. MIT argues that reinstating a testing requirement will allow the admissions process to be more equitable, by giving students who may not have access to advanced coursework or extracurricular programs to demonstrate their readiness for MIT. This is a controversial decision because conventional wisdom has long held that standardized tests perpetuate inequality in the admissions process, as students with access to paid test prep opportunities and advanced curricula typically score better on these exams.

I tend to agree with MIT on this one - after all, you can’t fake a test score (well, as long as you aren’t Rick Singer’s client!!). Even with pricey tutoring, the student has to actually earn the score. On the other hand, when a school is test-optional, the “softer” sides of the admissions process (essays, interview prep, extracurricular depth, recommendation letters, ED strategy) become much more important. Because those are a whole lot easier to manipulate with expert guidance than a test score, students with means can end up with a big advantage in test-optional situations. We will have to see if other schools follow MIT’s lead in bringing back testing requirements for the next admissions cycle. 

ANOTHER NEW SET OF RANKINGS

We’ve written before on the blog about the rankings from Academic Influence, and the latest metric that the organization is using to rank colleges is something called Academic Stewardship. Basically, this number calculates how an institution uses its resources - a ratio of how much impact it has to available resources. The result is an interesting list of schools that often do not appear on any well-known rankings: the #1 school for Academic Stewardship is Fisk College, a private HBCU in Nashville. 

NBA PROSPECTS BYPASS COLLEGE DESPITE NIL DEALS

A growing number of high school basketball players are choosing to bypass college and the NCAA altogether in pursuit of an NBA career, despite the fact that NCAA athletes can now earn money through the NCAA’s newly approved “name, image, and likeness” deals. These allow players to profit from advertisements, video games, and more, even as they remain amateur players. For many students, these incentives are just too new and untested to justify entering college when they could make salaries as full-time players straight from high school. We will have to see how lucrative these NIL deals become to know whether they will attract top-level players to the NCAA - although we also believe that a college education should be worth something in the calculus, too!

TEENS FACED EMOTIONAL ABUSE DURING PANDEMIC

In a sobering study this week, the CDC announced that the majority of teenagers endured emotional abuse while at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional stressors from home and family life were just one of the potential traumatic triggers for teenagers in the last two years, and potentially a symptom of overstressed caregivers, including parents.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

As we talk with students about their summer plans, the idea of doing independent research comes up more and more. This can be a really great way for students to pursue their passions (especially those with a unique interest), gain hands-on experience, and create a final product that looks great on college applications. For more about why it is important to pursue research as a high school student, as well as some ways to get started, we recommend diving into this short article and then checking out our Summer Opportunities Database!

We maintain that the number one way to get a true sense of a school is to take an in-person tour. But the truth is, sometimes even that is not enough! During the pandemic, in-person tours were not an option for many students. Other tours were available, but students couldn’t see inside academic buildings or dorms. Or maybe the tour is great, but you visit campus during a break and don’t get to see any students walking around - it can feel like a ghost town! This article explores some ways to improve campus tours, both in-person and virtual, to make the selection process easier for all students, even those who are not able to visit. 

By all accounts, this has been a tough admissions year for many students and families. This article dives into some of the reasons for the change. It is worth a read, though we don’t agree with the tongue-in-cheek tone - this has been a legitimate challenge for many families! If your student did not receive the decision they were hoping for, this article from the L.A. Times provides some strategies parents and family members can use to help students weather their feelings of rejection.  

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We want to share a couple of contest opportunities with you! The Congressional Art Competition, a nationwide art contest sponsored by the House of Representatives, is currently accepting applications. If you are a high schooler in Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, you can read more and apply here. 

And for our Class of 2022 students, if your college essay had anything at all to do with money - work, social class, privilege, etc. - consider submitting to the New York Times annual essay contest. The essays will be published in late June, and writers will be paid for their work. We love any opportunity for students to share their amazing essays! 

Enjoy the weekend, and try not to stress too much if you received a decision you weren’t happy with. I know, easier said than done - at this time of year I always think about how absolutely crushed I was when I was rejected from my dream school (you can read the whole saga here). Yet as an adult, I am so incredibly grateful for the path my life took instead. This too shall pass!

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Weekly Update: March 11

We hope everyone has been enjoying the beautiful weather!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES COULD LOSE AP STATUS WITH BANNED CONTENT

The College Board has announced that courses that are classified as Advanced Placement will need to teach the entire AP curriculum in order to retain AP designation. In the wake of discussion and litigation around banned topics, this provides a new consideration for schools - they risk losing AP status for classes if AP-specific materials are banned. This may have a particular impact on AP U.S. History classes, which have come under scrutiny before for course content.

IMPACT OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

The news has been saturated this week with stories from the invasion of Ukraine, and the ripple effects of the war have begun to be felt by U.S. colleges. Many colleges are pulling students out of study abroad programs in Russia, ending research partnerships, and cutting any financial ties with Russian institutions. At the same time, most colleges are making an effort to protect and support both Russian and Ukrainian students on campus. 

NEW MEXICO MAKES PUBLIC COLLEGE FREE

A new initiative in New Mexico will waive tuition for state and tribal colleges, including community colleges. This follows similar initiatives, at the community college level, from states like California and North Carolina. However, we don’t expect to see state systems with more demand for in-state education (like Virginia) make this change any time soon.

HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY ADDS NEW SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

With the help of private donors, High Point has raised around $500 million for new initiatives on campus. The university will open a law school, announcing the new dean in May, and also embark on major campus improvement projects including a new library, new student housing, and a brand new parking garage. Since 2005, the number of academic schools at High Point has jumped from three to 14!

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

A UVA senior published an essay in the New York Times opinion section this week grappling with free speech and censorship on campus. The essay describes how even students that hold “mainstream” views are often self-censoring for fear of social recriminations on campus. It is a nuanced piece that is definitely worth a read, no matter which side of the debate around campus speech you support. 

There has certainly been a shift in recent years toward more entrepreneurial emphasis on college campuses, with new dedicated spaces and coursework meant to empower young entrepreneurs (that High Point fundraise we mentioned earlier? One of the new schools they add will be a School of Entrepreneurship). This opinion piece by the founder of Best Buy supports the movement toward emphasizing creativity, courage, and innovation as essential parts of a valuable college education. 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We had such a fun lunch today with this adorable NYU freshman who is killing it at school and home for spring break! She and I had already worked together in person for about a year pre-Covid, but she reminded me today that she had never actually met Staci or Shannon in person before!!

I had completely forgotten that, particularly with Staci because they worked so closely together for so long. Anyway, it was a lot of fun and I hope we get to do it again when she is back over the summer :)

And speaking of the summer… if you’re still looking for summer plans or just hoping for some resume and interview tips, check out this year’s FCPS Teen Job Fairs! The fairs will be held at West Springfield High School on March 12 and at Chantilly High School on March 19. 

Lastly, now that essay season is upon us- we are hiring again and LOVE referrals! If you know any talented teachers or writers who would be interested in helping to serve our students as essay coaches this summer, please let us know. 

Have a great weekend!

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Weekly Update: February 11

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

DOLLYWOOD LATEST EMPLOYER TO PAY FOR COLLEGE

Dolly Parton’s theme park announced this week that it will pay for full college tuition for employees, as well as books and fees. The perk is available to seasonal, part-time, and full-time employees. We love seeing stories like this about how employers support their employees’ pursuit of higher education!

LONGEST SENTENCE YET PASSED DOWN ON VARSITY BLUES

Trials continue for parents involved in the Operation Varsity Blues scandal, and the longest sentence yet - one year and one day - was handed down this week. Gamal Abdelaziz was one of the first parents to face trial in the case (others, like Lori Laughlin, pleaded guilty and did not go to trial). Meanwhile, two-thirds of parents charged have received sentences of three months or less. Abdelaziz’s lawyers intend to appeal the decision.

DONOR AND LEGACY PREFERENCE IN JEOPARDY DUE TO H.R. 6559

Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) introduced a bill last week to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965. He seeks to prevent colleges and universities from giving preferential treatment to donors and/or legacies - with the caveat that the ban on legacy preference could be waived if it is “in the best interest of students who have been historically underrepresented in higher education.” You may remember that when Colorado banned legacy preference last year, we mentioned it was a big deal because of the precedent it set. We’re particularly interested to follow this bill in light of the upcoming Supreme Court case on affirmative action.

SCHOOL MASK MANDATES STILL IN FLUX

The Virginia Supreme Court dismissed a parent lawsuit contesting Governor Glenn Youngkin’s mask-optional executive order this week. Currently in many counties in Northern Virginia - including Fairfax, Alexandria, and Arlington - mask mandates can remain in place while the order is on hold. On Thursday, Fairfax County announced that it would make masking optional once COVID transmission reached “moderate levels.” We expect to see more changes to mask orders in the coming weeks, in Virginia as well as around the country.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

As debates around the country continue over banned books and school curricula, there have been several interesting articles this week that shed some light on these issues. This article argues that the purpose of higher education is “critical inquiry,” while The Atlantic this week explored the nuances of discussing versus using offensive language in the classroom. (Side note: If you’re particularly interested, FCPS community members can actually review and weigh in on elementary language arts instructional materials here until the end of February).

We also enjoyed this personal essay about how the author nearly “ruined” her daughter’s talent show - with the message that in some cases, it is important to allow children to be bad at something in order for them to learn and grow.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

In case you missed it, we wrote a blog post earlier this week about UVA’s (very surprising!) EA decisions. If you, like us, are scratching your head at some of the decisions you’ve seen or heard about recently, this is worth a read!

Have you checked out our Summer 2022 Internships Database recently? If not, you might be missing out on some great opportunities! We update this page every week with local and virtual internships and college courses. Now is the time to get your plans set for this summer! If you are an employer with an internship or job opportunity for high school students, let us know - we would love to feature your posting on our page. 

Lastly, some of you hit 100 days of school this past week - whether you’re a senior getting ready to graduate, or a junior getting ready to be done with this difficult year, it’s all downhill from here! Well, except for the 10th graders… buckle up :)

Our first student from the HS Class of 2035 dressing up like a 100-year-old to celebrate 100 days of Junior Kindergarten this week! :)

Enjoy the weekend!

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Weekly Update: February 4

Happy February! We hope everyone is staying dry :)

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

UVA EARLY ACTION DECISIONS RELEASED TONIGHT

So many of our students are on the edge of their seats waiting for UVA early action decisions to come out tonight. Make sure to check those applicant portals this evening, and we’ll be here with information on statistics for this year as soon as those are released. Fingers crossed for all of our students waiting on UVA decisions!

GEORGETOWN LAW PLACES ILYA SHAPIRO ON LEAVE

Ilya Shapiro, who was expected to take over as the executive director at Georgetown Law’s Center for the Constitution this week, has instead been placed on administrative leave in response to his tweets about Biden’s commitment to nominating a Black woman to the Supreme Court. Shapiro is on leave pending an investigation into whether the tweets violated Georgetown’s non-discrimination and anti-harrassment policies. 

TRINITY COLLEGE WORKSHOP WEDNESDAYS

Trinity’s College Decoded webinar series will walk students step by step through the college process, from the search to the essay to the campus visit. This is a great resource for juniors as they start on the active part of the college application process!

NATIONAL CATHOLIC COLLEGE ADMISSION ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP

Are you a senior attending a Catholic college next year? Don’t forget about the opportunity to apply for a National CCAA scholarship! The application only takes a few minutes to complete, and winners are chosen by random drawing, so this is a scholarship application that takes relatively little work for a potential $1,000 award.

NATIONAL GIRL SCOUT ADVISORY BOARD

GSUSA is accepting applications for up to ten seats on the National Girl Scout Advisory Board. Girl Scout members of the advisory board work with teams in the National Office on projects aligned with the national strategy, including DEI/RJ, older girl engagement, research, marketing and more. The Girl Advisory Board makes recommendations, contributes to key initiatives and gains valuable experience and professional development. Girl Scouts who will be in grades 7 through 11 in Fall 2022 are eligible to apply. This is a great leadership opportunity for students to take advantage of this year! Applications are due by February 21.  

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Several interesting articles this week that focus on the cost of college - and how it can be a major deterrent to some students. This article from The Conversation explores why students drop out of community college, even when they are close to a degree. There are a variety of reasons, but the top three have to do with cost: tuition is too high, living expenses are too high, and running out of financial aid. 

And even small expenses can contribute to this strain. This Washington Post article opens with the story of a student who was forced to drop out of college because he couldn’t afford the $25 bus ticket to get to campus. Now, colleges and educational nonprofits are looking for ways to help students pay for transportation, lodging, textbooks, housing deposits, and other expenses that, while they may seem insignificant to typical middle-class students, can be prohibitive for some would-be college graduates. 

Cancel culture has been a salient conversation when it comes to college campuses for years now, but the conversation is all too often dominated by politicians, professors, administrators, and other adults. This Atlantic article explores self-censorship and the notion of cancel culture through the students’ point of view, and is an interesting look at how self-censorship is working on college campuses. 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

If you read our earlier blog this week, you know that the Common App prompts for this cycle have been released! Our class of 2023 students can now begin their essay work, and will receive an email from us today with next steps. Now, we expect that most students will be able to wrap up those essays by spring break - and be ready to get started on their supplements!

As I mentioned on last week's blog, the Coalition Application announced an integration with Scoir and Slate. The Scoir counseling platform is used by students and counselors on the high school level, and Slate is a CRM used by colleges and universities to track applicant information (all that demonstrated interest data we talk about!). The webinar started with Gerry McCrory, the CEO of Scoir, who discussed the rationale for the integration. The whole thing sort of "clicked" for me when he explained that this will essentially be the TurboTax of the college admissions process. Love that analogy!

Here's how it will work: students and high school counselors will record student information in Scoir across the student's high school years, the way most already do anyway. When students begin their Coalition Application at the start of senior year, they will realize that they are 75% done already! They just have to answer the last few questions and then they can submit their applications. He explained that the goal is to make applying to college less transactional, and that they aren't building a new application, just a different way to apply.

In theory, I like the sound of this and I think that if it operates as planned, it does have the potential to simplify the process for some groups of students (primarily those applying to less-selective schools that have fewer school-specific questions and supplemental essays). However, given the experience I've had over the last five years or so with the Coalition Application, I do not have a high level of confidence in the organization's ability to carry this out as planned.

I also have another big concern - yes, this process makes it much EASIER for students. But sometimes the easier process is not what will get them the results they want. If there aren't any essays or short answers, and the application mostly contains information regarding demographics and academic data, how will colleges be able to differentiate applicants from one another? The process will become much less holistic... which will likely hurt the very students this partnership seeks to help. It's hard to say how this will turn out, but we will continue to keep everyone posted as we learn more information. 

Have a great weekend!

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Weekly Update: January 28

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

THE SAT GOES DIGITAL

Some of the biggest news this week has been around the SAT, which announced a major change this week - the SAT will go fully digital in 2024, and the length of the test will shorten to just two hours. 

If you are preparing to take the test now, this likely won’t have an effect on your planned test administrations, but ninth graders and younger students should be aware of the big changes to come!

This article is helpful as a clear breakdown of what we currently know and don’t know about this new SAT, and one of the SAT tutors that we work with also published a blog this week about how these changes could affect students’ preparation. They might even impact whether the students choose to take the ACT or SAT!

SCOIR ANNOUNCES COALITION INTEGRATION

While the Common App is fairly, well, common to our students, some of those who haven’t yet started the application process may have never heard of the Coalition for College Access. The Coalition Application operates much like the Common App (though we find it way more confusing!) in that it allows students to apply to multiple colleges through the same site. There are a few schools that will only accept the Coalition App, and others that take both, but in general the majority are Common App-exclusive and do not opt for a Coalition affiliation.

This week, the admissions software Scoir (which many high schools have begun to use as an alternative to Naviance) announced a partnership that will allow students to apply to Coalition schools directly through Scoir’s platform. The Scoir integration will take the place of the Coalition’s own application. 

This is a controversial move and we definitely have some concerns. Colleen will be attending a webinar next week to learn more about how this will impact students, and we will give you an update.

ON-CAMPUS VISITS ARE BACK

Many of our students are planning spring break trips to see schools, and we’re excited that some are open again for on-campus tours! If you’re trying to plan your college visits, check out this list from College Kickstart of schools offering on-campus tours. The list covers the top 50 national universities and the top 50 liberal arts colleges, so this is a great starting point for your spring break.

SUPREME COURT HEARS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION CASE

The anti-affirmative action cases against Harvard and UNC’s admissions processes have made their way to the Supreme Court. This is the first time the Supreme Court will make a ruling on affirmative action since upholding the practice in 2016. Most universities do consider race as a factor in the admissions process, so if this practice is overturned, it will likely have far-reaching consequences in the admissions world. The Supreme Court is expected to hear the case during its next term, beginning in October. 

FCPS UPDATES

FCPS’s live virtual career fair will run from February 14-February 17. This provides a great opportunity for students to learn about different careers and get connected to local professionals for networking opportunities. Don’t miss it!

And for parents and educators of special needs students, the Annual FCPS Special Education Conference is coming on March 26 - registration will open in March.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

After TJ removed a testing component as part of its admissions process, the school was hit with a lawsuit (which is still pending). But other highly selective, public technical high schools may soon be facing the same situation. This article explores the testing requirements for entry to schools like TJ, New York’s Brooklyn Tech, and San Francisco’s Lowell High School. This is a long read, but worth it for anyone interested in the nuances of how testing affects (or doesn’t) the diversity of the student body at these selective public schools. 

The general counsels for UVA and George Mason have been fired by the new Virginia attorney general. So far, we don’t know whether general counsels for other Virginia public colleges have also been let go. A statement from the attorney general’s office says that they hope to appoint new counsel that will be more in line with the goals of the office rather than the philosophy of the universities. 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

It is hard to believe how fast this year has gone, but as we keep emphasizing - it is already time for high school students to start thinking about their summer plans! The process continues to be uncertain this year, so we recommend that students have a summer option they’d like to pursue if the pandemic allows, and then a backup option that would make them equally happy if Omicron necessitates that they choose a virtual experience this summer.

Still not sure of your summer plans? Check out our Summer 2022 Virtual Opportunities Database for some ideas! We will continue to add new in-person and virtual opportunities in the DC area and around the country on a weekly basis, so bookmark this page to stay up-to-date on all of your summer options. 

Enjoy the weekend - stay safe in the snow!! And good luck to all our first-year girls at UVA finishing up formal recruitment this weekend!!

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Weekly Update: January 21

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

GOVERNOR YOUNGKIN’S MASK ORDER

Governor Youngkin issued an executive order this week that gives parents the final say on whether or not their children wear masks in schools, even if the schools have a mandatory mask policy in effect. Many school districts, including FCPS and Arlington County, are still requiring masks for now, and several parents have filed lawsuits in response to the order. The biggest impact we will see in our area will likely be at Catholic schools, as the Diocese of Arlington has opted to follow Governor Youngkin’s lead. With a child in one of those schools, I’m a Iittle nervous to see how this plays out…

MARYLAND UNIVERSITIES REQUIRE KN95 MASKS

Meanwhile, several colleges and universities in Maryland are requiring everyone on campus to wear high-grade masks. Johns Hopkins is requiring N95 or KN95 masks or two surgical masks, while UMD and Towson will require KN95 masks in classroom settings. 

“CALIFORNIA FOR ALL COLLEGE CORPS” LAUNCHES PILOT PROGRAM

Governor Newsom recently announced a pilot program that will cover $10,000 of tuition costs at 45 California colleges and universities, including UC Berkeley and UCLA, for students who complete at least 450 hours of community service. Students can volunteer for one year to serve in high-need areas like climate action, K-12 education, and COVID-19 recovery. 

BOSTON COLLEGE MERGER WITH PINE MANOR

During the pandemic, many smaller colleges faced financial hardships that required school closures, including Pine Manor college in Massachusetts. Luckily, the school merged with Boston College and is now launching the new two-year Messina College, with the goal of recruiting, retaining, and graduating underrepresented and first generation students. The institute will have housing for students on its campus, and BC’s president said that he hopes students graduating from Messina will be able to transfer to Boston College. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

We are picking up now with law school admissions for juniors in college this spring - this is really the time to start preparing to apply to law school! One myth that many students come to us with is the idea that law schools only care about GPA and LSAT score. While GPA and LSAT score are very important in this process - in fact, we’d argue that these numbers are more important overall in the law school process than for undergraduate applications - they aren’t the only factors. This article covers six important factors in law school admissions, including life experience, work and volunteer experience, and motivation. 

Of course, these factors definitely play a role in admissions. However, it is important to consider them in the context of your application. If you are applying to law school straight from undergrad, your GPA is going to be a very important factor. If you are applying to start a second career after 10 years in the working world, your work experience is going to carry more weight! 

Most of our students and families are familiar with Naviance - the software that helps two-thirds of American high school students with their college research. This article explores how Naviance collects data on applicants and allows colleges and universities to advertise directly to a certain pool of students, basing targeted ads on criteria like geographic location and race. This is definitely something that students and parents should be aware of - and be careful to think critically about the schools that Naviance suggests to them! 

This article takes a deep dive into the establishment of Florida International University, from its origin on an abandoned airfield to its recent receipt of a $40 million donation from MacKenzie Scott. The school now has the number 6 ranking for social mobility among all universities in the country, and jumped 22 spots in the U.S. News rankings in 2022 compared to 2021. If you are interested in the rise of a newer college to the public eye, it is definitely worth looking into FIU. Especially if you want to say goodbye to this awful weather!

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We’ve used the space in the last few weeks to spotlight extracurricular and summer opportunities that students can use to improve their communities and their college applications. This week, we’re sharing an opportunity to become a student board member of McLean Community Center. There are two board slots available for teens who are residents of the MCC’s tax district (Small District 1A-Dranesville) and will be 15-17 years of age on May 21, 2022. One slot is for a student living within the Langley HS boundary, and one slot is for a student living within the McLean HS boundary, although neither student needs to actually attend the schools. Candidate petitions are due by March 11. For more information, check out the Community Center’s website. 

We have these opportunities in mind because we are spending a lot of time this month with our current juniors, discussing high school course selection, testing plans, extracurricular activities, teacher recommendations, and more! This is a perfect time to get started on the undergraduate or law school admissions process - for more information, book a Meet & Greet to chat with us. 

Lastly, we are also working on trying to reduce student stress and anxiety as much as possible. Just when everything felt like it was going back to normal again, the omicron variant came in with a fury and did a number on adolescent mental health. if you are noticing your student’s anxiety becoming an issue at home, you should check out this week’s parent workshop by the highly-sought-after Dr. Dan Shapiro. There are so many families who could benefit from some help in this area, and we think Dr. Dan is great!

You can register here for Thursday’s program.

Have a great weekend, and stay warm!

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Weekly Update: January 14

Happy Friday! A note that our office will be closed on Monday for MLK, Jr. Day. Have a great long weekend!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

TOP COLLEGES SUED FOR ANTITRUST VIOLATIONS

Sixteen top universities, including Yale, Georgetown, Penn, MIT, Brown, and Northwestern, are being sued for antitrust violations in response to the way that they work together when determining financial aid awards for students. The lawsuit was filed in Illinois this past weekend, and claims that over 170,000 students were overcharged in a financial aid system that amounts to price-fixing by the colleges. 

Though the schools do coordinate their financial aid processes, this system has been exempt from antitrust laws because all of the schools named in the lawsuit are need-blind, so financial need is not considered a factor in their admissions processes. But the lawsuit casts doubt on whether these universities truly do not consider need as an admissions factor. 

This is why we never recommend “applying just to apply” if you already know you won’t qualify for need-based financial aid! For more about this, check out our blog post on the FAFSA.

GO DAWGS!

On Monday night, the University of Georgia beat Alabama in the national football championship. This is the first title for Georgia since 1980. UGA’s campus as well as the city of Atlanta and other areas around Georgia have been celebrating the historic win!

ENROLLMENT CONTINUES TO DROP

This feels like a groundhog-day story at this point, but college enrollment nationwide continued to drop this fall, despite vaccine availability. The decline equals over a million students in the workforce rather than in the classroom, which we can expect to have an impact on the US economy moving forward, especially if this trend continues beyond the pandemic years.

UVA PROVOST BECOMES PENN’S NEXT PRESIDENT

Liz Magill, the Provost at UVA, has been selected as the next president of the University of Pennsylvania. In 2019, Magill became the first female provost at UVA. Magill will begin her new role at Penn on July 1. Ian Baucom, the current Dean of Arts & Sciences, will become UVA’s new provost. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

This week’s biggest story is that of Mackenzie Fierceton, a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania. Fierceton was admitted to Penn as an undergraduate, first-generation student - she wrote her senior thesis based on her time in foster care. After Fierceton was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, however, her story began to fall apart. 

An anonymous informant emailed Penn’s administration to reveal that Mackenzie grew up in an affluent suburb, with her mother, who was a college graduate. The email, sent to both Penn and the Rhodes Trust, included images of Mackenzie from her high school yearbook - skydiving, horseback riding, and whitewater rafting. Both organizations began extensive investigations into her story. Ultimately, Fierceton withdrew from the Rhodes scholarship. Penn is also withholding her diploma until their investigation is complete. 

In December, Mackenzie Fierceton filed a lawsuit against Penn for their handling of her case, and particularly the “unjust” withholding of her degree. The case also raises issues of how victims of child abuse are treated, and whether her essays and descriptions of her childhood are reflective of what she experienced. 

At the center of the controversy was Fierceton’s undergraduate admissions essay, detailing the severe child abuse that landed her in the foster care system. These events have brought to the surface the pressure that some students feel to write about trauma as the topic for an engaging college essay. But as we tell our students every year, you don’t need to have experienced hardship to write an engaging essay - and pretending you did can clearly backfire! Our Wow Writing Workshop process helps students tell THEIR stories in a clear, interesting, and exciting way.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

In our midweek blog this week, we covered your questions about summer opportunities. And yes, you should begin thinking about summer opportunities now! A couple that stood out to us this week were Vanderbilt’s Programs for Talented Youth, which serve students in grades 1-12. Applications are open now for the university’s in-person residential Summer Academy for 7-12th graders, as well as the Virtual Research Experience. 

If you don’t have the money to spend this summer on an impressive-sounding college program, don’t worry! There are plenty of free or even paid opportunities to specialize and develop your niche as an applicant. We’re excited about the course options available through FCPS’s High School Academies, which give the opportunity to specialize in a variety of areas for all FCPS students!

That’s it for today - enjoy the long weekend!

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